Jesse backs Pincham as GOP woos black vote

R. Eugene Pincham picked up a mayoral endorsement from the Rev.Jesse L. Jackson on Sunday, while Mayor Daley took Easter off andGeorge S. Gottlieb looked for black votes.

Jackson's backing for Pincham only two days before the electioncame after he took a pass at campaigning for Danny K. Davis in theFebruary Democratic primary.

"I hope he wins," said Jackson, now a "shadow" senator fromWashington, D.C., and television talk show host. "I'm not involvedin the campaign."

He said he was "not involved in local political elections inChicago."

"The reason I'm not involved in this race is that I don't have theenergy to get involved in this process," he said.

A two-time Democratic presidential primary candidate who has notruled out another run, Jackson was elected nonvoting "shadow" senatorin November and is lobbying to make the city the nation's 51st state.

Jackson's low-key comments are a contrast to past mayoralelections, in which he played a central role in fostering blackcandidacies and sparking black voter turnout, crucial if Pincham isto stand a chance at defeating front-runner Daley, the Democraticnominee.

The support was offered only after Jackson was asked about themayor's race during a press conference he called after preaching anEaster sermon.

Jackson made no mention of Pincham, the Washington Partycandidate, in the sermon.

Jackson's lack of involvement has been a source of irritation tosome of Pincham's supporters.

"Jackson's conspicuous absence has raised questions," saidPincham spokesman Paul Davis, who said Jackson did get involved inlocal politics last year when he endorsed Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.)for re-election and backed Neil F. Hartigan's candidacy for governor.

Paul Davis, who also worked in the Danny K. Davis campaign, saidJackson met the County Board member twice but "support nevermaterialized."

He said the Pincham campaign did not ask Jackson for anendorsement.

On Saturday, WBBM-TV reported that former PUSH officer ThomasTodd said at a Pincham fund-raiser, "Former protester Jesse Jacksonnow lives on the Daley plantation."

Jackson, asked to respond to Todd's comments, said, "I shouldnot dignify those accusations. . . . What (Pincham) needs Tuesday ispeople knocking on doors and not on each other."

Jackson was in Chicago to give the Easter sermon at CarterTemple Church, 7841 S. Wabash, and to be inducted into the BlackHeroes Hall of Fame.

Daley did not campaign Sunday because it was Easter, saidcampaign manager David Wilhelm.

But radio spots he is running show his concern about turnouttomorrow, predicted to hit a record low of 43 percent.

"Hey you . . . there is an election Tuesday," the spot says. ". . . A lot of people . . . think that it's over."

Daley plans to wrap up his campaign tonight at an "I LoveChicago" rally for campaign workers.

On the campaign trail, Pincham told a congregation at theRedeeming Church of Christ Spiritual, 6920 S. Harper, and a liveradio audience that blacks should take advantage of being the largestsingle voting bloc in the city.

GOP candidate Gottlieb, a Chicago police sergeant who hopes todraw black votes in an area that he used to patrol, deemed himselfthe only candidate to reach out to all segments of the community.

Gottlieb stumped at Grace Mission Church, 400 N. St. Louis, andsaid Daley's low profile was typical of the mayor's campaign. "Thevoters have a right to know how a candidate stands," Gottlieb said.

Contributing: Ray Long.